EDINBURGH.- The decades following WW2 saw artists take new forms of artistic expression. The order and rationalism that had preceded was rejected. Painting became more gestural and instinctive; this was achieved through the application of paint not just from brushes but palette knives and any other means that gave the artist the desired surface effect they sought. The materiality of paint and other substances were used to expressive ends. Paint could be piled on, scraped back and worked into. Mixed media, collage and found objects were all part of the arsenal.

In this, Hang 3 // 1950-1980, are examples of work by Anne Redpath, William Gillies and John Houston who embraced an expressive and gestural way of painting in their boldly coloured work. In stark contrast to this highly figurative and representational way of painting was abstract artist Talbert Mclean. A lone figure in Scottish art at the time, he pursued it nonetheless. Will Maclean’s work of the 1970s explores the use of found objects in boxed constructions that evoke and give history and intimacy to his forebears through the representation of their way of life.

John Halliday
The Monkey Palace
Now in his late 80s, John Halliday lives two doors away from where he was born in the small town of Kirkcudbright in the south west of Scotland. Life and travels have taken him far and wide to complete this circle.

His childhood in the town brought him in contact with the likes of Jessie M King, her husband, EA Taylor and Cecile Walton who was to be his great champion. Through Cecile’s encouragement he enrolled at Glasgow School of Art. In his final year he was awarded a bursary to visit Europe. There began his life-long love of Italy, in particular, Venice, Calabria and Sicily. Ethereal and theatrical accounts of these places are included in this small retrospective. They will hang alongside studies for commissions which John received in the dozens for Scottish institutions and the grand houses of Scotland. Trompe l’oeil and architecture typify these works and a capacity for minute detail that tell the picture’s story.

In addition to these, Halliday paints the Galloway landscape in a palette and style quite unlike others. The penumbral light and muted tones of the gentle Galloway landscape are amongst his strongest and most heartfelt work.

The exhibitions are on view by appointment only at The Fine Art Society in Edinburgh.